Eugene weekly., June 17, 2004, Page 5, Image 5

TO THE EDITOR
be adjusted. She continued to do this a num-
ber of times, losing all flow to her songs.
Slowly over the course of her performance a
frown grew over her face and it was obvious
she didn’t want to be there anymore. But the
attitude she took with a fan in the front row
who requested a Be Good Tanyas song was
totally inexcusable. After coldly saying, “I’m
not in that band,” Jolie went on to mutter
under her breath, a little too close to the mic,
“Fuck off!”
It was quite sad and has left a bad taste in
my mouth all week. That a musician could
become that upset at a fan who had paid
money to see her perform astonished me. Just
needed to get that off my chest. And to that
fan who was the object of such disrespect,
I’m sorry.
Justin Miers
Eugene
NO WONDER
Iraqi prisoners abused, tortured, killed by
U.S. soldiers. Oh, now I get why President
Bush opposed U.S. involvement and support
for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in
the Hague.
Pete Mandrapa
Eugene
He also learned that the survival of natural
ecosystems around the world appeared bleak.
The knowledge that our modern culture is
continuing to kill the living planet (and each
other) at an ever quickening and seemingly
callous pace may have sent him over the edge
of hopelessness. Most of us can maintain a
state of denial to continue our struggle and
hope for a just world, but maybe Patrick
couldn’t. His presence will be sorely missed.
Thank you, Patrick, for giving your heart,
soul and life for what you truly believed in.
We will continue the struggle for a just world
in your memory. Viva Cascadia!
Shannon Wilson
Eugene
HEMP MEMORIALIZED
Did everyone notice the inclusion of
hemp in the new World War II Memorial?
There are 56 pillars representing the states
and territories of the U.S. in the installation
and in between each pillar is a bronze impres-
sion of rope connecting the pillars. And every
student of history knows that during World
War II the U.S. government repealed the pro-
hibition against hemp for the war effort. If it
is rope and it is 1942, that rope is hemp.
Chris Pender
Eugene
AIR QUALITY MATTERS
The proposed 900 megawatt gas fired
West Cascade Energy Facility is worth know-
ing about. Nearly as large as Trojan was at
1,100 megawatts, this facility has been de-
signed to produce far more power than the
175 megawatts needed to handle Lane
County’s projected 10-year growth. It is de-
signed to sell power on the open market.
That’s OK if every place that bought the
power took their portion of emissions with
them. While clean water is currently a plenti-
ful resource, clean air is not. Selling your
abundant resources makes some sense, but
we live in a smog-trapped valley half the
year. Tons of emissions including biocides to
clean the stacks and ammonia to neutralize
some of the nitrous oxide are among the pol-
lutants this plant would emit.
With 30 jobs offered, we’d do better to en-
courage businesses that improve or have
lesser impact on our air quality, not greater. If
the 108-acre proposed site were farmed con-
scientiously, it could employ more than 30
people and clean rather than dirty our air.
Because Marcus, the applicant, has chosen to
avoid the county process and go to the State
Energy Facility Sighting Council we need to
ask the commissioners to “hold a hearing”
and “make a recommendation on our behalf
to the EFSC.” Please write or e-mail the com-
missioners. Our air quality is worthy of our
efforts.
Kevin Jones
Eugene
WHAT MATTERS MOST
In memory of Patrick E. Allison who at-
tended and graduated the UO: Patrick was
struck and killed by a train Saturday, May 22,
in Davis, Calif. He was 24. Apart from being
a student, Patrick, aka pinesap, was a forest
defender who spent countless days and hours
saving Fall Creek, Winberry Creek and the
Umpqua wildlands from 1998 to 2003.
Apparently this was his way of trying to
make the world a better place for us and all
life on the planet. He had attained the knowl-
edge of not only academia but what really
mattered, the love and continuation of all life.
HAMILTON’S CHOICE
I was relieved to learn that the federal
abortion ban signed into law by President
Bush earlier this year was found unconstitu-
tional last week by Federal District Court
Judge Phyllis J. Hamilton. I was outraged
when Bush supported a law that contains no
exceptions for cases where a woman’s health
is at risk. In addition, the language of this law
is so vague that it could be applied to abor-
tions as early as the 12th week of pregnancy.
It appears that the law that Bush signed is just
one piece of an ongoing and increasingly ag-
gressive campaign to invade women’s pri-
vacy and eliminate the right to choose.
I applaud Hamilton for finding the federal
abortion ban to be unconstitutional, making a
landmark victory for medical privacy rights
and women’s health. Anti-choice lawmakers
have been wasting tax dollars for years in ef-
forts to spread inaccurate information deny-
ing the need for safe and medically appropri-
ate procedures. Hamilton’s decision further
confirms that the federal abortion ban poses a
threat to women’s health and violates the
Constitution. President Bush will not let any-
thing stand in the way, not even the
Constitution, of eliminating a woman’s right
to choose. Unfortunately, these efforts come
at the price of women’s health.
Rose Kelsch
Eugene
DIGGING DEEPER
After his death, many people have praised
Ronald Reagan. They have elevated him to
the level of saint, citing such things as ending
the Cold War. In my opinion, he was a snake
oil salesman that sold us happy propaganda
to distract us from some of the things that he
and his cabinet achieved.
He promoted the Soviet Union as an
enemy to justify a massive increase in mili-
tary spending, tripling our country’s deficit
during his years in the White House. Moving
to probable criminal activities, there was sub-
stantial evidence that pointed him and his
cabinet to dealing with Iran in trading arms
for hostages. Folks, please do not plead coin-
JUNE 17, 2004 5